Former allies ‘face off’ over radio

Sparks flew when former allies Tomas Osmeña and Cebu CIty Mayor Michael Rama engaged in an impromptu discussion over radio yesterday about how to run the Cebu city government.

They tangled over  the South Road Properties (SRP), the  stalled Supplemental Budget No. 1 in the City Council, and “transparency”.

Osmeña, former mayor and leader of Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK), was in the studio of   radio dyAB  being interviewed by anchor and station manager Leo Lastimosa  about the stalled SB 1 at about 7:30 a.m. yesterday when Rama phoned in to  announce  activities for the  filing of the Certificates of Candidacy of Team Rama candidates on Friday.

At first the mayor was surprised to learn that Osmeña was being  interviewed.

“I”m not here to answer him.  Thank you, Leo but you should have been transparent. If I knew beforehand (he was there)…  You know me, I’m not a scene stealer,”  said Rama when the anchor asked if he would take phone-patched questions or respond to issues raised by Osmeña.

Nevertheless, Rama went ahead and addressed Osmena in a conversation that lasted about 20 minutes.

Rama said that since Regional Trial Court Judge Alexander Acosta has denied the petition seeking  to stop the City Council from spending  SRP sales proceeds, there is no more reason for BO-PK councilors to delay deliberations to approve Supplemental Budget No. 1.

To this, Osmeña said the current problems could have been avoided if Mayor Rama did not commit “shortcuts” in the sale of the SRP lots.

He said the ordinance calling for unsolicited proposals as a mode of lot disposal instead of public bidding should have first been amended.

“Klaro kaayo that this is not the way to run the city.  You say there is transparency but you will not release the records,” he said.

Rama bristled, saying it was not for the former mayor to lecture him on legislative procedures.

He said that  since SRP sales proceeds of about P8 billion are now with the city’s coffers, court cases will have to be dealt with by city treasurer Diwa Cuevas who is the one who certifies the availability of funds.

Mayor Rama also asked that  Osmeña’s wife, Councilor Margot Osmena, who heads the  budget committee, address  to him directly any queries about additional documents needed to resume council  deliberation of SB 1 instead of pressuring his executive officials.

“If she wants the local finance committee to solve the impasse – I will remind my mentor – slash, disapprove or approve (the budget),” Rama added, but don’t sit on it.

Rama cited the check-and-balance setup between Congress and  the Office of the President.

In  local government units, “we all are expected to be cordial with each other.”

Osmena cited a repeated criticism about  adverse audit findings in the last four years of Cebu city government operations.

Rama said he recognizes Osmeña as a former mayor and his mentor, but  insisted that  he should be given the chance to do his job as city mayor.

“Give us a chance. I can guarantee you. We will implement all the projects. I can guarantee,” he said.

“Ang imong projects, millions lang. Ang ako billions. Ako ang nagpadaku sa budget sa syudad to P13.4 billion (Your projects are worth only millions. Mine are billions. The city’s budget grew to P13.4 billion during my administration),” Rama added.

On the garbage tipping fees at the Consolacion landfill, Rama said the city treasurer and city accountant have addressed the issue.

“ I would rather not talk about that because this has been justified already by the accountant and city treasurer.They are not stupid, he said.

To this, Osmeña retorted, “Why won’t he answer?  Pwerteng taasa sa iyang tubag pero dili siya mo tubag sa mga pangutana?” (He had a long reply but he won’t answer my question.)

Osmena said there were four years of adverse audit observations of City Hall and Rama has not even responded squarely to the 2014 audit observations, which the Commission on Audit released last July.

“These are questions not asked by the city council but by the Commission on Audit and you said you will answer it. Where is the answer? Now you are asking for additional money from the council?” he said.

Osmena also disagreed that with Rama’s impression that council members should not act as fiscalizers of the executive department.

“You say it’s the job of Congress to be fiscalizer and not the city council’s.  Why you think the city council is different? The city council is a rubber stamp? Is that what you think?” he said.

Osmena said he could not understand why Cebu City needed  a special fund source like SRP sales proceeds to fund the release of about P70 million for the employees’ productivity enhancement incentives.

The province of Cebu and other Cebu LGU took care of their employees’ bonuses using regular fund sources.

“Here we have to sell land to pay bonuses at City Hall for P70 million?” Osmeña said.

Before the interview ended, Osmena asked Rama to secure a bond before he even decides to use SRP sales proceeds.

“Get a bond to cover the liability of the city government and the city council as approving party.  It’s not the mayor being sued but the city council. That is not fair,” he said.

Mayor Rama also chided the radio anchor, saying  he was willing to debate, but there should have been a proper briefing.

“I do not intend to be answering him (Osmena). I do not think he should be questioning me. No, no, no. This is not the forum. The forum is we go to the people.  I have done much . Let  the people judge,” Rama said.